1.2.3

International Relations with other Powers

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International Relations, 1857-1890

By the late 1800s, Britain was increasingly concerned about European powers. These tensions helped to contribute towards World War One.

Illustrative background for GermanyIllustrative background for Germany ?? "content

Germany

  • Germany was newly unified after a powerful victory against France (1871).
  • Germany began to expand its navy and this threatened Britain's hegemony internationally. Britain's navy was the strongest in the world and the British Navy was vital for protecting international colonies.
  • In the 1890s and 1900s, Germany created new industry cartels. In 1904, the Steel Works Association was created and was subsidised to export steel globally.
  • Germany was becoming increasingly industrialised and competitive with Britain's manufacturing industries at the same time that Germany's economic and industrial power was growing.
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France

  • France was embarrassed after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian war.
  • So, France sought to reassert its strength militarily elsewhere in the world.
  • In 1863, Cambodia's King, Norodom had made Cambodia a French protectorate.
  • In 1885, France gained territory in Vietnam after its victory over China in the Sino-French War.
  • In 1887, France combined Cambodia with its territories in Vietnam to create French Indochina. In 1893, after another war, France added Laos to French Indochina.
  • In response to France's increasing power in South East Asia, Britain took control of Malaya (1874) and Burma (1885).
Illustrative background for RussiaIllustrative background for Russia ?? "content

Russia

  • Russia was increasingly encroaching into the north of China with the 1891 Trans-Siberian Railway.
Illustrative background for The impact of the depressionIllustrative background for The impact of the depression ?? "content

The impact of the depression

  • Between 1873 and 1896 there was a global economic depression.
  • There had been a bubble in railroad (railway) investments that collapsed and in the UK, the City of Glasgow Bank went bankrupt. Internationally, lots of banks went bankrupt and stopped lending people money (giving them credit to invest). This was similar to the cause of the Great Depression in the 1930s.
  • With domestic demand falling in the UK, Germany, France, and the USA, all countries could increase their sales and output by selling their goods into new markets like Asia and Africa.

Jump to other topics

1High Water Mark of the British Empire, 1857-1914

2Imperial Consolidation & Liberal Rule, 1890-1914

3Imperialism Challenged, 1914-1967

4The Wind of Change, 1947-1967

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